When I finally got to the place, it was just like the others—a small two- or three-bedroom home with a neat front entrance and inviting walkway. The yard wasn’t anything spectacular, but it was well-kept, and the hedges had been trimmed. I had an uneasy feeling as I parked and headed up to the door.
I knocked, then waited for what felt like an eternity for someone to answer. Eventually, the door opened, and a young, very-pregnant brunette appeared in the doorway. She was a pretty thing, in her mid-twenties with olive-toned skin and dark eyes, and there was a small toddler boy standing next to her.
Clearly concerned by my presence at her doorstep, her brows furrowed as she asked, “Um, hi. Can I help you?”
“Is Camden around?”
Since I hadn’t seen his car in the driveway, I prayed she’d answer no, but then she turned and looked behind her. “Hey, babe, there’s someone here to see you.”
“Who is it?”
“He didn’t say.”
Before she had a chance to say anything, Camden stepped up behind her. He was wearing a white t-shirt and sleep pants, and he looked positively stunned when he spotted me standing on his front step. “Thatch? What the hell are you doing here?”
“I was just about to ask you the same fucking thing.”
“You need to go.”
“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what the fuck this is all about.” He looked frantically over to the woman standing next to him, then back to me. “Now, Camden!”
“Go inside, Callie, and take Cason in with you.”
“But why?” She looked over to me with a worried expression. “Who is this? What does he want?”
“He’s my brother.” He gave her a gentle nudge. “Just go inside, and I’ll explain everything when he’s gone.”
“Fine.” She looked down at the little boy at her side and took his hand. “Come on, sweetheart. Daddy needs to talk to his brother for a minute.”
And just like that, all my worst fears came true. Not only was Camden cheating on Mia, he had a home and children with this woman. As soon as Camden had closed the door, I roared, “Daddy? That kid is yours?”
“His name is Cason, and yeah, he’s mine.”
“And the one in her belly? That one yours, too?”
“Yeah, as a matter of fact, it is.”
“What the fuck, Camden? You have kids with this woman? How could you do this?” I was too pissed to give him a chance to answer. I just railroaded him with all the fucking questions that were barreling through my mind. “Mia’s been wanting kids for years! She’s just about killed herself trying to have ’em, and you’ve knocked this chick up not once but twice!”
“Why would I ever have kids with Mia? She doesn’t love me. Never has,” he roared back. “Not the way she loves you.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about!” His face grew red with rage as he shouted, “She’s pined over you for years, and you’ve loved every fucking minute of it.”
“You’re off your fucking rocker, brother.”
“The fuck I am!” He pointed his finger at me and he grumbled, “Always coming up with bullshit excuses to come over to the house. Fix this. Fix that. Any excuse you can find to spend time with her!”
“You’re fucking insane! Mia’s not in love with me.” I was blown away that he’d even suggest something so ridiculous. “Did you ever try to talk to her, or did you just jump into bed with the first woman you met?”
“I didn’t have to ask her! I could see it in her eyes every fucking time she looked at you.”
“If you really believe that, then why do all this? Why not just divorce her and let us move on with our lives?”
“Because that would mean you’d win.” His smug expression remained as his words cut through me like daggers. I couldn’t believe my ears. My own flesh and blood betrayed me not once but countless times. And he didn’t just betray me but the woman I’d loved for decades. Arrogance dripped from his words as he said, “I wouldn’t let that happen.”
“I would win?” I growled. “What the fuck does that even mean?”
“Because it was always you!” he roared. “I was the one who was there for her. I didn’t join the military and go off to Timbuktu. I was here! I stuck it out and put a ring on her finger. I busted my ass and gave her everything. A big, fat house, nice cars, all the jewelry she could want, and it still wasn’t enough! She wanted you!”
“Holy shit. You’ve gone off the fucking deep end, brother.”
“Maybe so, but you have yourself to thank for that.” He motioned his hand behind him as he said, “So, consider all this a big fuck you to both Mia and you.”